When I think of October, my thoughts go to idyllic fall weather and activities that many of us enjoy here in Door County. On a more somber note, however, October happens to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On the surface, domestic violence and orthopedics are seemingly unrelated. A striking statistic, however, is that up to 35% of women presenting to the emergency room with injuries are victims of domestic violence. In medicine, there’s a saying that “you may not see it, but it’s seeing you.” This is certainly true when it comes to domestic violence.
Domestic violence is pervasive and touches all parts of society. The statistics are sobering: 25% of women have been victims of domestic violence, 15% of men. In households with domestic partner violence, child abuse is also involved 50% of the time. A victim could be a co-worker, friend, family member, maybe even you. Sometimes victims blame themselves, sometimes they truly don’t realize that they’re being emotionally or physically abused. Their partner may be nice during the good times and profusely apologetic. Below are some warning signs:
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Your partner is possessive and checking up on you constantly. They get mad when you’re hanging out with other people.
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Your partner is jealous. Some degree of jealousy can be normal, but this is more extreme. They isolate you from family and friends to make sure you’re completely dependent on them.
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Your partner threatens to hurt you or your family.
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Your partner puts you down and belittles you. They blame you for their outbursts. They put down your intelligence and tell you you’re incapable. They put down your mental health or tell you you’re emotionally weak.
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Your partner physically (hitting, beating, strangling) or sexually abuses you. Consent between both partners is still required in a relationship.
If you feel that you may be a victim of domestic violence, don’t blame yourself. Don’t wait for things to change. Don’t wait before it’s too late. If you’re unsure how to start and would like to speak to someone confidentially, please go to www.thehotline.org. If you feel your internet browser history is being tracked, another option is to call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). If you know someone who would benefit from this information, please pass it along.
About Dr. Mark Jordan
Dr. Mark Jordan provides orthopedic services at Door Orthopedic Center in Sturgeon Bay. The Door Orthopedic Center at Door County Medical Center is a state-of-the-art facility paired with a top-notch orthopedic team that can get you back to daily living and your favorite activities as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment at Door County Medical Center's Door Orthopedic Center, visit our Door Orthopedic Center page or call Door County Medical Center at 920-743-5566.